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Jul 13

Drought Conditions Continue to Spread Across the US

Though a few areas of the country received soaking rains this past week, the isolated precipitation wasn’t nearly enough to offset the record heat and extraordinarily dry conditions plaguing most of the United States.

According to the latest report from the US Drought Monitor, nearly 61% of the continental United States is experiencing some degree of drought. An additional 20% of the country faces drier than normal conditions.

The lack of rain is having adverse effects on golf courses around the country and superintendents are being pushed to the brink. Earlier this week, we asked our Twitter followers to give us a two-word weather report from their area. This response sums it up nicely:

With Mother Nature playing hard to get, many golf courses are irrigating more than ever in summer 2012.  Smaller-budget courses are struggling to keep water costs under control while superintendents saddled with water use restrictions are facing even bigger challenges.

More out of Every Drop

While superintendents can’t control the weather (though the idea of a Friday the 13th Rain Dance is gaining steam on Twitter), they can control their water. The use of soil surfactants can help ensure that supers are getting the most out of every drop they put on their course.

A successful Revolution program can keep greens healthier all summer-long, even through prolonged dry spells. Meanwhile, applications of Aqueduct can provide rapid recovery for common problems like localized dry spots.

The use of Aquatrols soil surfactants is an important tool for superintendents during these dry stretches. However, communication is also key. The GCSAA offers some great tips for communicating golf course conditioning during a drought.

Unfortunately, it looks like this record-setting weather pattern will stick around for quite some time. But with the proper tools and increased communication, superintendents can weather the storm (or lack-thereof) until relief is in sight.

Aquatrols

About The Author

More than 60 years ago, Aquatrols introduced the world’s first commercially available soil wetting agent. Since creating an entirely new product category to address water management challenges and opportunities, the company has remained a top innovator and producer of high-performance soil surfactants and related technologies. Aquatrols’ advanced product suite optimizes soil-water-plant interactions in agricultural, professional turfgrass, and horticultural industries in more than 40 countries. Headquartered in southern New Jersey, Aquatrols also has offices in the United Kingdom and conducts business on six continents.

3 Comments

  1. Battling Localized Dry Spots « Aquatrols
    July 16, 2012 at 1:35 pm ·

    […] dry spells are wreaking havoc with courses across the country. According to the US Drought Monitor, nearly 80% of the continental US currently faces drier-than-normal […]

  2. […] most oppressive month on the calendar in the United States. This year is certainly no exception as drought conditions continue to spread across the country and temperature records shatter seemingly by the […]

  3. […] after heat wave continues the relentless assault on courses and crops across the United States. A prolonged drought has gripped more than half of the country and Superintendents in the affected regions are at wit’s […]